With regard to representative democracy,
and without prejudice to pronouncements on this subject by other bodies in the
Organization of American States, this Chapter presents a brief summary of the background
to the draft Inter-American Democratic Charter.

According to the Charter of the
Organization of American States (OAS), representative democracy is an indispensable
condition for the stability, peace, and development of the region and one of the essential
purposes of the Organization is the promotion and consolidation of representative
democracy with due respect for the principle of nonintervention;

The Heads of State and Government of
the Americas, gathered at the Third Summit of the Americas held in Quebec City from April
20 to 22, 2001, declared in respect of democracy, inter alia, "that the
values and practices of democracy are fundamental to the advancement of all our
objectives. The maintenance and strengthening of the rule of law and strict respect for
the democratic system are, at the same time, a goal and a shared commitment and are an
essential condition of our presence at this and future Summits. Consequently, any
unconstitutional alteration or interruption of the democratic order in a state of the
Hemisphere constitutes an insurmountable obstacle to the participation of that
states government in the Summits of the Americas process."

Accordingly, the Heads of State and
Government instructed their "Foreign Ministers to prepare, in the framework of the
next General Assembly of the OAS, an Inter-American Democratic Charter to reinforce OAS
instruments for the active defense of representative democracy."

During the twenty-first regular
session of the General Assembly, held in Santiago, Chile, the ministers of foreign affairs
and heads of delegation expressed, in the Santiago Commitment to Democracy and the Renewal
of the Inter-American System, their determination to adopt a series of effective, timely,
and expeditious procedures to ensure the promotion and defense of representative
democracy. Likewise, among the actions to which they assigned priority was the following:

b. Strengthening representative democracy
as an expression of the legitimate and free manifestation of the will of the people,
always respecting the sovereignty and independence of member states.

On that occasion, the General Assembly
adopted resolution AG/RES. 1080 (XXI-O/91), which established a mechanism for collective
action in the event of a sudden or irregular interruption of the democratic political
institutional process or of the legitimate exercise of power by the democratically elected
government in any of the Organizations member states./

Subsequently, at its twenty-second
regular session, held in the Bahamas, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration of
Nassau [AG/DEC. 1 (XXII-O/92)], in which it was agreed to develop mechanisms to provide
assistance, when requested by a member state, to promote, preserve, and strengthen
representative democracy, in order to complement and give effect to the provisions of
resolution AG/RES. 1080 (XXI-O/91) and declared:

1. Their unwavering and renewed
commitment to the strengthening, defense, and promotion of representative democracy and
human rights in the Hemisphere, the rule of law within the framework of the principles of
self-determination, nonintervention and solidarity enshrined in the OAS Charter.

In 1993, the General Assembly, held in
Nicaragua, adopted the Declaration of Managua for the Promotion of Democracy and
Development, AG/DEC. 4 (XXIII-O/93), in which the ministers of foreign affairs and heads
of delegation expressed their firm belief that democracy, peace, and development are
inseparable and indivisible parts of a renewed and integral vision of solidarity in the
Americas; and that the observance of these values will depend on the ability of the
Organization to help preserve and strengthen democratic structures in the Hemisphere./.

Finally, in the Dialogue of Heads of
Delegation at its thirtieth regular session, the General Assembly reviewed the draft
Inter-American Democratic Charter presented by the delegation of Peru and co-sponsored by
the delegations of Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, and the United States.

Accordingly, the General Assembly adopted
resolution AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01), Resolution of San Josť, Costa Rica - Inter-American
Democratic Charter, reaffirming the resolve of OAS member states to adopt the Charter in
order to promote and consolidate representative democracy as the form of government of all
the American states.

The presidents of the Republics of
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the Chairman of Perus Ministerial
Council, gathered in the city of Valencia, Venezuela, on the occasion of the Thirteenth
Andean Presidential Council, adopted the Act of Carabobo on June 24, 2001, and in numbered
paragraph 5:

Drew attention to the importance of the
Andean Communitys Commitment to Democracy, which reflects the firm conviction and
permanent will of the Andean countries to promote democratic order and the existence of
the constitutional state in the Andean region. In that connection, they reiterated their
full support for Resolution No. 1838 of the General Assembly of the Organization of
American States (OAS), which provides for a Special General Assembly to be held in Lima in
regard to the Inter-American Democratic Charter./.

Pursuant to the second operative
paragraph of "Resolution of San Josť, Costa Rica  Inter-American Democratic
Charter" [AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01)], the OAS General Assembly accepts "the
attached proposed Inter-American Democratic Charter, which will serve as the base document
for final consideration of the Charter by the member states" and instructed the
Permanent Council:

3. To strengthen and expand, by September
10, 2001, the proposed Inter-American Democratic Charter, in accordance with the OAS
Charter, taking into account any consultations that member state governments may carry out
in keeping with their constitutional procedures and democratic practices.

4. To make public the proposed
Inter-American Democratic Charter in order to help civil society form an opinion, in
accordance with the Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS
Activities.

5. To convene a special session of the
General Assembly, to be held in Lima, Peru, by no later than September 30, 2001.

At its meeting of June 20, 2001, the
Permanent Council began its review of resolution AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01) Resolution of
San Josť, Costa Rica  Inter-American Democratic Charter.

Then, in order to comply with the mandate
conferred by the General Assembly, the Council agreed:

To form and install a working group, open to all
delegations, to continue preparing the Inter-American Democratic Charter draft resolution
pursuant to resolution AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01);

To continue hearing general statements that delegations
might wish to make in the Permanent Council; and

To instruct the Chair of the Permanent Council to present,
after consulting the delegations, a timetable for reviewing the draft Inter-American
Democratic Charter.

At that meeting the Chair of the Working
Group was elected by acclamation.

At its meeting of June 27, 2001, the
Permanent Council considered the report presented by the Chair of the Permanent Council,
Ambassador HernŠn R. Castro, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica, on the timetable for
consideration of AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01).

After listening to the comments made by
delegations on the aforementioned timetable, the Permanent Council decided to adopt it, as
follows:

Preliminary considerations:

This draft timetable is based on the
following considerations:

Resolution AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01) accepted the draft
appended to it as a base document for final consideration by the member states.

It set September 10, 2001 as the deadline for the work of
the Permanent Council.

It resolved to take into account consultations that
governments may carry out in keeping with their constitutional procedures as well the
opinions of civil society.

Thus the timetable envisages a brief
period of general debate in early July to allow all states an opportunity to make a
preliminary statement regarding the base document, a second phase of consultations, a
period in which to prepare the material arising out of those consultations in order to
rationalize the work of the Council, and a final phase of intense discussion prior to the
special session of the General Assembly.

With these considerations in mind, the
Chair proposed the following:

Proposal

Preliminary discussion

The Council will listen to preliminary
statements on the base document on July 11.

Consultations:

Governments may conduct the consultations
referred to in resolution AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01) until August 10, 2001.

A Permanent Council internet portal will
be available as of July 9 to receive civil society opinions. The deadline for submitting
those opinions shall be August 10, 2001.

Preparation of material:

The General Secretariat team will finish
classifying, tabulating, and organizing the relevant material by no later than August 14,
2001.

Debate:

The period for intensive debate will be
between August 15 and August 29, 2001.

Debate will proceed as follows: The
Council will act as a working group open to all the permanent missions. Once the
discussion of each chapter has concluded, the Council will be convened to give its formal
approval.

Support:

During the deliberations, the Council may
consult the Inter-American Juridical Committee (CJI) and the Secretariat for Legal Affairs
in respect of any concerns or doubts that might arise in the course of debate, with regard
to the respective texts.

Accordingly, on August 9, 2001, the Chair
of the Permanent Council transmitted a note to the Chair of the Inter-American Juridical
Committee inviting that body to support the deliberations of the Working Group to Study
the Draft Inter-American Democratic Charter in any way it deemed appropriate.

Pursuant to the General Assembly mandate
contained in resolution AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01), and bearing in mind Article 58 of the
Charter of the Organization of American States, Article 47 of the Rules of Procedure of
the General Assembly, and Article 70 of the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council,
the Permanent Council adopted resolution CP/RES. 793 (1283/01), the operative paragraph of
which resolves:

To convene the twenty-eighth special
session of the General Assembly, to be held in Lima, Peru, on September 10, 2001, in
keeping with resolution AG/RES. 1838 (XXXI-O/01), in order to adopt the Inter-American
Democratic Charter.

On June 24, 2001, the Permanent Mission
of Peru transmitted a note to the Chair of the Permanent Council advising him that on
instructions of the Government of Peru and for logistical and infrastructure-related
reasons, the special session of the General Assembly would begin with an inaugural session
on Monday, September 10 and conclude on Tuesday, September 11.

The Working Group to Study the Draft
Inter-American Democratic Charter, on the basis of the mandate conferred by the Permanent
Council, held eleven working sessions. It began with Rev.7 appended to resolution AG/RES.
1838 (XXXI-O/01), which had been accepted by the General Assembly "as the base
document for final consideration by the member states"/.

The working sessions were held on August
15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, 2001, exactly as scheduled.

Likewise, the Group adhered to the
timetable adopted by the Permanent Council at its meeting of June 27, 2001 (CP/doc.3497/01
rev. 1).

At its first meeting, held on August 15,
the Working Group elected Ambassador Lionel Alexander Hurst, Permanent Representative of
Antigua y Barbuda and Ambassador Juan Manuel Castulovich, Permanent Representative of
Panama, by acclamation, as Vice Chairs of the Working Group.

Working procedures were agreed on at the
same meeting, which also took note of the main issues raised by the delegation in their
general statements, such as: the purpose of the document, which should contain preventive,
dissuasive, and effective elements; the legal status of the document, bearing in mind the
principle of the progressive development of public international law; the essential
elements of democracy, with agreement on a minimal characterization of the concept;
graduality of the sanctions mechanism and an early warning mechanism, inter alia.

It was also agreed to address topics such
as gender equity, education, the environment, corruption, sustainable development, and the
link between democracy and extreme poverty.

A subgroup of the Working Group, chaired
by Ambassador Juan Manuel Castulovich, Permanent Representative of Panama and Vice Chair
of the Working Group, was established to consider and prepare the text referring to
poverty.

At its meeting of August 31, 2001, the
Working Group completed the "Inter-American Democratic Charter" draft
resolution, thereby fulfilling the mandate conferred on it by resolution AG/RES. 1838
(XXXI-O/01) of the Permanent Council.

In its preamble, the draft resolution
transcribes the concept of representative democracy contemplated in the OAS Charter;
recognizes the contributions of the OAS and other organizations to the promotion of
democracy; recalls the instructions of the Heads of State and Government gathered at the
Third Summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City, Canada; reaffirms the principle that
the fight against extreme poverty is essential to the promotion and consolidation of
democracy; refers to the values and principles of liberty, equality, and social justice as
being intrinsic to democracy; and reaffirms that the promotion and protection of human
rights is a basic prerequisite for the existence of a democratic society.

The preamble also recognizes that a safe
environment is essential to the integral development of the human being; refers to the
Protocol of San Salvador on economic, social, and cultural rights; recognizes
workers rights; and takes into account the principles enshrined in the Santiago
Commitment to Democracy and the Renewal of the Inter-American System, in resolution
AG/RES. 1080 (XXI-O/91), in the Declaration of Nassau, and in the Declaration of Managua
for the Promotion of Democracy and Development, inter alia.

The draft resolution proposes adoption of the
Inter-American Democratic Charter consisting of 28 articles divided into the following
chapters:

At its meeting of August 14, 2001, after
considering the report of the Chair of the Style Committee of the thirty-first regular
session of the General Assembly, the Permanent Council agreed to approve the
recommendations put forward by the Committee regarding the formation of a style committee
for the twenty-eighth special session of the General Assembly that, in accordance with
Article 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, would revise the text of the
Draft Inter-American Democratic Charter before presenting it for consideration by the
aforementioned special session of the General Assembly.

The Committee comprised the delegations
of Canada for the French text, Brazil for Portuguese, the United States for English, and
Costa Rica and Colombia for Spanish.

The Committee met on September 4, 2001,
chaired by Ambassador Luis Guardia, Alternate Representative of Costa Rica. In addition to
the members of the Committee, the delegations of Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and the
Dominican Republic also attended the Style Committee meeting.

Acting within its sphere of competence,
the Committee corrected stylistic errors in the draft in question, harmonizing the texts
in the official languages of the Organization. Adjustment of Article 19 of the Draft
Inter-American Democratic Charter to the other languages was left, pending a consultation
with the delegation of Belize.

The draft approved by the Working Group
and revised by the Style Committee is attached to this report.

In conclusion, and on behalf of the
members of the Working Group, I hereby remit for the consideration of the Permanent
Council the Draft Inter-American Democratic Charter, as an attachment to this report
(GT/CDI-11/01), in order for it to be submitted, pursuant to resolution AG/RES. 1838
(XXXI-O/01), for the information and consideration of the General Assembly at its
twenty-eighth special session.

Ambassador Humberto de la Calle Lombana
Permanent Representative of Colombia
Chair of the Working Group

AppendiX I

OEA/Ser.G
CP/RES. 793 (1283/01)
27 June 2001
Original: Spanish

CP/RES. 793 (1283/01)

CONVOCATION OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES,

HAVING SEEN Article 58 of the Charter of
the Organization of American States, Article 47 of the Rules of Procedure of the General
Assembly, Article 43 of the Statutes of the Permanent Council, and Article 70 of the Rules
of Procedure of the Permanent Council;

BEARING IN MIND that resolution AG/RES.
1838 (XXXI-O/01) reaffirmed the resolve of all the OAS member states to adopt an
Inter-American Democratic Charter for the purpose of promoting and consolidating
representative democracy as the system of government of all American states; and

CONSIDERING that resolution AG/RES. 1838
(XXXI-O/01) instructed the Permanent Council to convene a special session of the General
Assembly to be held in Lima, Peru, no later than September 30, 2001,

RESOLVES:

To convene the twenty-eighth special
session of the General Assembly, to be held in Lima, Peru, on September 10, 2001, for the
adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, in keeping with resolution AG/RES. 1838
(XXXI-O/01).

Appendix II

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES GT/CDI-11/01

4 September 2001

Working Group to Study the Original: Spanish

Draft Inter-American Democratic Chart

DRAFT RESOLUTION
INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER
(Approved by the Working Group at its meeting of August 31, 2001
and revised by the Style Committee on September 4, 2001)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

CONSIDERING that the Charter of the
Organization of American States recognizes that representative democracy is indispensable
for the stability, peace, and development of the region, and that one of the purposes of
the OAS is to promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the
principle of nonintervention;

RECOGNIZING the contributions of the OAS
and other regional and sub-regional mechanisms to the promotion and consolidation of
democracy in the Americas;

RECALLING that the Heads of State and
Government of the Americas, gathered at the Third Summit of the Americas, held from April
20 to 22, 2001 in Quebec City, adopted a democracy clause which establishes that any
unconstitutional alteration or interruption of the democratic order in a state of the
Hemisphere constitutes an insurmountable obstacle to the participation of that state's
government in the Summits of the Americas process;

BEARING IN MIND that existing democratic
provisions in regional and subregional mechanisms express the same objectives as the
democracy clause adopted by the Heads of State and Government in Quebec City;

REAFFIRMING that the participatory nature
of democracy in our countries in different aspects of public life contributes to the
consolidation of democratic values and to freedom and solidarity in the Hemisphere;

CONSIDERING that solidarity among and
cooperation between American states require the political organization of those states
based on the effective exercise of representative democracy, and that economic growth and
social development based on justice and equity, and democracy are interdependent and
mutually reinforcing;

REAFFIRMING that the fight against
poverty, and especially the elimination of extreme poverty, is essential to the promotion
and consolidation of democracy and constitutes a common and shared responsibility of the
American states;

BEARING IN MIND that the American
Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man and the American Convention on Human Rights
contain the values and principles of liberty, equality, and social justice that are
intrinsic to democracy;

REAFFIRMING that the promotion and
protection of human rights is a basic prerequisite for the existence of a democratic
society, and recognizing the importance of the continuous development and strengthening of
the inter-American human rights system for the consolidation of democracy;

CONSIDERING that education is an
effective way to promote citizens awareness concerning their own countries and
thereby achieve meaningful participation in the decision-making process, and reaffirming
the importance of human resource development for a sound democratic system;

RECOGNIZING that a safe environment is
essential to the integral development of the human being, which contributes to democracy
and political stability;

BEARING IN MIND that the Protocol of San
Salvador on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights emphasizes the great importance of the
reaffirmation, development, improvement, and protection of those rights in order to
consolidate the system of representative democratic government;

RECOGNIZING that the right of workers to
associate themselves freely for the defense and promotion of their interests is
fundamental to the fulfillment of democratic ideals;

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that, in the Santiago
Commitment to Democracy and the Renewal of the Inter-American System, the ministers of
foreign affairs expressed their determination to adopt a series of effective, timely, and
expeditious procedures to ensure the promotion and defense of representative democracy,
with due respect for the principle of nonintervention; and that resolution AG/RES. 1080
(XXI-O/91) therefore established a mechanism for collective action in the case of a sudden
or irregular interruption of the democratic political institutional process or of the
legitimate exercise of power by the democratically elected government in any of the
Organization's member states, thereby fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of the
Hemisphere to be able to respond rapidly and collectively in defense of democracy;

RECALLING that, in the Declaration of
Nassau [AG/DEC. 1 (XXII-O/92)], it was agreed to develop mechanisms to provide assistance,
when requested by a member state, to promote, preserve, and strengthen representative
democracy, in order to complement and give effect to the provisions of resolution AG/RES.
1080 (XXI-O/91);

BEARING IN MIND that, in the Declaration
of Managua for the Promotion of Democracy and Development [AG/DEC. 4 (XXIII-O/93)], the
member states expressed their firm belief that democracy, peace, and development are
inseparable and indivisible parts of a renewed and integral vision of solidarity in the
Americas; and that the ability of the Organization to help preserve and strengthen
democratic structures in the region will depend on the implementation of a strategy based
on the interdependence and complementarity of those values;

CONSIDERING that, in the Declaration of
Managua for the Promotion of Democracy and Development, the member states expressed their
conviction that the Organizations mission is not limited to the defense of democracy
wherever its fundamental values and principles have collapsed, but also calls for ongoing
and creative work to consolidate democracy as well as a continuing effort to prevent and
anticipate the very causes of the problems that affect the democratic system of
government;

BEARING IN MIND that the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs of the Americas, at the thirty-first regular session of the General
Assembly, held in San Jose, Costa Rica, in keeping with express instructions from the
Heads of State and Government gathered at the Third Summit of the Americas, in Quebec
City, accepted the base document of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and entrusted
the Permanent Council of the Organization with strengthening and expanding the document,
in accordance with the OAS Charter, for final adoption at a special session of the General
Assembly in Lima, Peru;

RECOGNIZING that all the rights and
obligations of member states under the OAS Charter represent the foundation on which
democratic principles in the Hemisphere are built; and

BEARING IN MIND the progressive
development of international law and the advisability of clarifying the provisions set
forth in the OAS Charter and related basic instruments on the preservation and defense of
democratic institutions, according to established practice,

RESOLVES:

To adopt the following:

INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER

I

Democracy and the Inter-American System

Article 1

The peoples of the Americas have a right
to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.

Democracy is essential for the social,
political, and economic development of the peoples of the Americas.

Article 2

The effective exercise of representative
democracy is the basis for the rule of law and of the constitutional regimes of the member
states of the Organization of American States. Representative democracy is strengthened
and deepened by permanent, ethical, and responsible participation of the citizenry within
a legal framework conforming to the respective constitutional order.

Article 3

Essential elements of representative
democracy include, inter alia, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
access to and the exercise of power in accordance with the rule of law, the holding of
periodic, free, and fair elections based on secret balloting and universal suffrage as an
expression of the sovereignty of the people, the pluralistic system of political parties
and organizations, and the separation of powers and independence of the branches of
government.

Article 4

Transparency in government activities,
probity, responsible public administration on the part of governments, respect for social
rights, and freedom of expression and of the press are essential components of the
exercise of democracy.

The constitutional subordination of all
state institutions to the legally constituted civilian authority and respect for the rule
of law on the part of all institutions and sectors of society are equally essential to
democracy.

Article 5

The strengthening of political parties
and other political organizations is a priority for democracy. Special attention will be
paid to the problems associated with the high cost of election campaigns and the
establishment of a balanced and transparent system for their financing.

Article 6

It is the right and responsibility of all
citizens to participate in decisions relating to their own development. This is also a
necessary condition for the full and effective exercise of democracy. Promoting and
fostering diverse forms of participation strengthens democracy.

II

Democracy and Human Rights

Article 7

Democracy is indispensable for the
effective exercise of fundamental freedoms and human rights in their universality,
indivisibility and interdependence, embodied in the respective constitutions of states and
in inter-American and international human rights instruments.

Article 8

Any person or group of persons who
consider that their human rights have been violated may present claims or petitions to the
inter-American system for the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with
its established procedures.

Member states reaffirm their intention to
strengthen the inter-American system for the protection of human rights for the
consolidation of democracy in the Hemisphere.

Article 9

The elimination of all forms of
discrimination, especially gender, ethnic and race discrimination, as well as diverse
forms of intolerance, the promotion and protection of human rights of indigenous peoples
and migrants, and respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity in the Americas
contribute to strengthening democracy and citizen participation.

Article 10

The promotion and strengthening of
democracy requires the full and effective exercise of workers rights and the
application of core labor standards, as recognized in the International Labour
Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and its
Follow-up, adopted in 1998, as well as other related fundamental ILO conventions.
Democracy is strengthened by improving standards in the workplace and enhancing the
quality of life for workers in the Hemisphere.

III

Democracy, Integral Development, and
Combating Poverty

Article 11

Democracy and social and economic
development are interdependent and are mutually reinforcing.

Article 12

Poverty, illiteracy, and low levels of
human development are factors that adversely affect the consolidation of democracy. The
OAS member states are committed to adopting and implementing all those actions required to
generate productive employment, reduce poverty, and eradicate extreme poverty, taking into
account the different economic realities and conditions of the countries of the
Hemisphere. This shared commitment regarding the problems associated with development and
poverty also underscores the importance of maintaining macroeconomic equilibria and the
obligation to strengthen social cohesion and democracy.

Article 13

The promotion and observance of economic,
social, and cultural rights are inherently linked to integral development, equitable
economic growth, and to the consolidation of democracy in the states of the Hemisphere.

Article 14

Member states agree to review
periodically the actions adopted and carried out by the Organization to promote dialogue,
cooperation for integral development, and the fight against poverty in the Hemisphere, and
to take the appropriate measures to further these objectives.

Article 15

The exercise of democracy promotes the
preservation and good stewardship of the environment. It is essential that the states of
the Hemisphere implement policies and strategies to protect the environment, including
application of various treaties and conventions, to achieve sustainable development for
the benefit of future generations.

Article 16

Education is key to strengthening
democratic institutions, promoting the development of human potential, and alleviating
poverty and fostering greater understanding among our peoples. To achieve these ends, it
is essential that a quality education be available to all, including girls and women,
rural inhabitants, and minorities.

IV

Strengthening and Preservation of
Democratic Institutions

Article 17

When the government of a member state
considers that its democratic political institutional process or its legitimate exercise
of power is at risk, it may request assistance from the Secretary General or the Permanent
Council for the strengthening and preservation of its democratic system.

Article 18

When situations arise in a member state
that may affect the development of its democratic political institutional process or the
legitimate exercise of power, the Secretary General or the Permanent Council may, with
prior consent of the government concerned, arrange for visits or other actions in order to
analyze the situation. The Secretary General will submit a report to the Permanent
Council, which will undertake a collective assessment of the situation and, where
necessary, may adopt decisions for the preservation of the democratic system and its
strengthening.

Article 19

Based on the principles of the Charter of
the OAS and subject to its norms, and in accordance with the democracy clause contained in
the Declaration of Quebec City, an unconstitutional interruption of the democratic order
or an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the
democratic order in a member state, constitutes, while it persists, an insurmountable
obstacle to its governments participation in sessions of the General Assembly, the
Meeting of Consultation, the Councils of the Organization, the specialized conferences,
the commissions, working groups, and other bodies of the Organization.

Article 20

In the event of an unconstitutional
alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order in a
member state, any member state or the Secretary General may request the immediate
convocation of the Permanent Council to undertake a collective assessment of the situation
and to take such decisions as it deems appropriate.

The Permanent Council, depending on the
situation, may undertake the necessary diplomatic initiatives, including good offices, to
foster the restoration of democracy.

If such diplomatic initiatives prove
unsuccessful, or if the urgency of the situation so warrants, the Permanent Council shall
immediately convene a special session of the General Assembly. The General Assembly will
adopt the decisions it deems appropriate, including the undertaking of diplomatic
initiatives, in accordance with the Charter of the Organization, international law, and
the provisions of this Democratic Charter.

The necessary diplomatic initiatives,
including good offices, to foster the restoration of democracy, will continue during the
process.

Article 21

When the special session of the General
Assembly determines that there has been an unconstitutional interruption of the democratic
order of a member state, and that diplomatic initiatives have failed, the special session
shall take the decision to suspend said member state from the exercise of its right to
participate in the OAS by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the member states in
accordance with the Charter of the OAS. The suspension shall take effect immediately.

The suspended member state shall continue
to fulfill its obligations to the Organization, in particular its human rights
obligations.

Notwithstanding the suspension of the
member state, the Organization will maintain diplomatic initiatives to restore democracy
in that state.

Article 22

Once the situation that led to suspension
has been resolved, any member state or the Secretary General may propose to the General
Assembly that suspension be lifted. This decision shall require the vote of two thirds of
the member states in accordance with the OAS Charter.

V

Democracy and Electoral Observation
Missions

Article 23

Member states are responsible for
organizing, conducting, and ensuring free and fair electoral processes.

Member states, in the exercise of their
sovereignty, may request that the Organization of American States provide advisory
services or assistance for strengthening and developing their electoral institutions and
processes, including sending preliminary missions for that purpose.

Article 24

The electoral observation missions shall
be carried out at the request of the member state concerned. To that end, the government
of that state and the Secretary General shall enter into an agreement establishing the
scope and coverage of the electoral observation mission in question. The member state
shall guarantee conditions of security, free access to information, and full cooperation
with the electoral observation mission.

Electoral observation missions shall be
carried out in accordance with the principles and norms of the OAS. The Organization shall
ensure that these missions are effective and independent and shall provide them with the
necessary resources for that purpose. They shall be conducted in an objective, impartial,
and transparent manner and with the appropriate technical expertise.

Electoral observation missions shall
present a report on their activities in a timely manner to the Permanent Council, through
the General Secretariat.

Article 25

The electoral observation missions shall
advise the Permanent Council, through the General Secretariat, if the necessary conditions
for free and fair elections do not exist.

The Organization may, with the consent of
the state concerned, send special missions with a view to creating or improving said
conditions.

VI

Promotion of a Democratic Culture

Article 26

The OAS will continue to carry out
programs and activities designed to promote democratic principles and practices and
strengthen a democratic culture in the Hemisphere, bearing in mind that democracy is a way
of life based on liberty and enhancement of economic, social, and cultural conditions for
the peoples of the Americas. The OAS will consult and cooperate on an ongoing basis with
member states and take into account the contributions of civil society organizations
working in those fields.

Article 27

The objectives of the programs and
activities will be to promote good governance, sound administration, democratic values,
and the strengthening of political institutions and civil society organizations. Special
attention shall be given to the development of programs and activities for the education
of children and youth as a means of ensuring the continuance of democratic values,
including liberty and social justice.

Article 28

States shall promote the full and equal
participation of women in the political structures of their countries as a fundamental
element in the promotion and exercise of a democratic culture.